Control device



Feb. 4, 1941.

P. s. RUSS EL CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 34 L p? 1 29 21 TL A 45 3| g. W39 32 2?. as v 4 l g 7 L to *45 ad 7 44 H; a

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1941. P. s. RussEL 2,230,911

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W WW/r992 2 FIGS "aw/( MATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1941 e w H 2,230,911

UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE Philip s'.-m.ssa Detroit, Mich, assign to De- I troit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 23, 1937, Serial No. 176,145

19 Claims. ((1137-68) y I My invention relates generally to contl'cl de ber 5. The inlet chamber may be located at vices andmore particularly to gravity feed, cone one end of the casing I within the outlet chamstant liquid level controls.- l her 4, and may berectangular in shape as in It is an object'of my invention toprovide a the present instance. The inlet chamber 5 may 5 new and, improved liquid level control device in be formed by vertical walls 6, 'I and 'I, together which clogging of a port by foreign matter is with a portion of the side and bottomwalls of prevented, the casing I. Preferably the walls 6 and I, which Another object of my invention is to provide may be termed the side walls of the inlet chama new and improved liquid level control device ber 5, extend longitudinally of the casing I in 10 in which a valve, controlling aport tomaintain spaced, parallel relation with each other and 10 a constant liquid level in a chamber, is operated join with the casing side and bottom walls. in a manner to automaticallykeep the port free Preferably the wall 1, which may be termed of clogging material. the end wall of the inlet chamber 5, extends Another object of my invention is to protransverse to and joins with the side walls 6,

vide, in a device of the above mentioned char- I and the bottom wall of easing I. The walls 15 acter, new and improvedvalve actuating mech- 6, I and I may terminate below the casing anism which will, at regular intervals, close the cover 2, and the upper end of the inlet chamber valve with a snap action, and which will operate 5 is open, as shown. in this manner and yet maintain a substantially The chamber 5 has an inlet passage 8, preferconstant liquid level or pressure head in a chamably through the bottom wall of the casing I, 20 her. V and screw threaded into the passage 8 there The invention consists in the improved conis preferably provided a removable valve seat struction and combination of parts, to be more member or fitting 9 that projects upwardly fully described hereinafter and the novelty of within the inlet chamber 5. The bottom wall whichwlll be particularly pointed out and disof the casingl may be formed with a depending 25 tinctly claimed. hollow boss I0, communicating with the inlet In the accompanying drawings, to be taken passage 8, for connection with a conduit or pipe I as a part of this specification, I have fully and (not shown) that may connect the inlet to a clearlyillustrated my invention, in which drawsource of supply of liquid. The inlet 8 prefings-- I erably extends through an upstanding boss II 30 Figure l isa top planview ofmy control deformedintegral oi the casing bottom walhand vice showing the arrangement of its operating a gasket I2 may be held under compression and associated-parts; l v P between the upper end of the boss II and an ex- Fig. 2 is a view of my device shown partly in ternal annular flange I3 of-the fitting 9 t i elevation and partly in cross section taken along sure a fluid tight joint. The fitting 9 may be 35 the line and in the direction of the arrows 2 -2 a tubular shaped, open ended member having of Fig. l; I I a vertically extending passage c-r bore I! that Fig. 3 is a viewin vertical central cross secmayhave a reduced bore portion I5, preferably tion of a modified form of my control device at thelower end of thefitting 9, to provide an 40 showing certain parts thereof in elevation upwardly facing port and seat IB for coopera- 40 Fig. 4is a view shown in cross section of an tion with a valve member II. The valve meminlet and another form of valve; I I ber I1 is disposed for vertical reciprocal move- I Fig. 5 is a view in vertical central cross secmerit in the fittingbore I4, and at its lower end tion of another modified form of my control dethe valve member is preferably formed with a vice showing the operating parts thereof in side conical face I8 for cooperation with the port 5 elevation, and 4 I6 to control how therethrough. The vertical I Fig. 6 is a view in section of a still different bore I4 of the fitting 9 is of slightly larger diform of control device embodying my invention. ameter than the diameter of the valve member Referring to the drawings by characters of I! to provide an annular space or chamber for reference, the numeral I designatesin general flow of liquid, and opening through the side wall 50 a hollow casing that may include a'removable of the fitting 9, within the chamber 5, oneor topwall or cover! which may, be held in place more apertures or bores 20 may be provided for byscrews 3 or by other suitable means: The the passage of liquid out of the fitting into the casing I has a relatively large outlet chamber inlet chamber 5. The valve member II has a I for liquid and a relatively small inlet; chamstem portionll which projects upwardly above 55 the upperend'of the fltting 9, and fltted over the upper end of the fitting 9 a cap 22 may be provided having an aperture therethrough for slidably receiving and guiding the valve member IT.

'A float 23 is disposed in the outlet chamber 4 and is operatively connected to the valve member l-I by a lever member, designated in general by the numeral 24. Intermediate its ends the lever may have downturned side flanges 25 out of which may be formed a pair of spaced lever arms 26. The lever arms 26 may straddle or position one on each side of the inlet chamber side walls 6, I and have aligning apertures for receiving pins 21 that may be secured in and to the walls 6, I for pivotally supporting the lever 24. The lever 24 may be rigidly secured at one end thereof to the float 23, and the other end of the lever 24 extends into the inlet chamber for connection with the valve l1. Intermediate its ends the lever 24 may have an upwardly directed,'ofiset or bent portion 29 to extend upward over the top of wall Hand down into the chamber 5 where an end portion 29 of the lever is preferably in the same horizontal plane asthe axis of the pivot pins 21. v

The lever end portion 29 .in the chamber 5 maybe provided therethrough with an elongated aperture or slot 30 for receiving the valve stem 2|, and the valve stem may be provided with an abutment in the form of a pin having its opposite ends projecting from the side of the valve stem for abutment against the underside of the lever end portionv 29. A resilient plate member or leaf spring 32 may be providedior urging the valve I upward to hold the abutment pin 3| in engagement with the lever end portion 29, and the resilient plate 32 may be secured at one end thereof to the underside of the'lever end portion 29. It will be. understood that the above described connection betweenthe lever 24 and the valve l'l provides for a rocking movement .therebetween so that the valve ,II will move vertically with little or no side thrust, but it is also to be understood that the valve'and lever may be operatively connected in any, other suitable manner.

Carried by the float 23 and preferably mounted on the top thereof there is a receptacle or dump bu'cket;33 to which liquid is supplied from the inlet chamber 5 '"and from which the liquid is periodically discharged ordumped into the constant level chamber 4. A duct or conduit 34 may be provided to convey liquid from the inlet chamber 5 to the receptacle 33. One end of the conduit 34 may be secured in and to the side wall'le of the inlet chamber 5 and the other end of the conduit may overlie the receptacle 33 to discharge liquid thereintor The conduit 34 is inclined so that liquid will flow therethrough by gravity to the receptacle 33. The receptacle 33 has a bottom wall 35, an end vwall 36 and side walls 31. The receptacle 33 may be hinged at one end thereof, to, the fioat 23, by spaced hingemembers 38 which may have a common shaft 39. A tension spring 49 may be provided to determine the weight-of liquid in the receptacle33 that will cause the receptacle to dump the liquid into the chamber 4, and to also return the receptacle to its up position after dumping of the liquid therefrom. The spring 40 may be wrapped around the shaft. 39 between the spaced hinges 38, with oneend of-the spring abutting the underside of the receptacle 33 and the other end of .thespring abutting the upper seat tov close the port 4|.

surface of the float 23. The spring 40 acts to pivot the receptacle 33 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, and the hinges 39 may have limited pivotal movement to prevent movement of the receptacle past its up position, which position is shown in full lines in the drawings.

The constant level chamber 4 has an outlet port 4| which is preferably formed by the upper open end of a hollow boss 42 that may be integral with the bottom wall of the casing I and may project slightly upward within the chamber 4. The upper end of the hollow boss 42 is also provided with a seat for a manually operable valve member 43 that is preferably provided to regulate therate of flow of liquid from chamber 4. The valve member 43 may have a beveled or conical'shaped face 44 for engaging its Below the conical face 44 the valve member 43 preferably has a lower end portion of reduced diameter, as at 45, that is slidably received and guided in an apertureor bore provided through an internal,

transversely extending wall 46 of the boss 42, the wall 46 preferably being located adjacent the upper end of the .boss. Below thetransverse wall 46 the boss 42 has a passage 41 that leads downward through the bottom wall of the casing I, through an external hollow boss 48- which may be threaded for connection to a supply line or conduitinot shown). The valve member 43 preferably has ametering slot 49 in the side wall of the reduced valve portion 45, and the metering slot may extend longitudinally of the valve. At its upper end the metering slot 49 preferably terminates at a point such that the entire slot will be below the upper surface of the transverse wall 46 when the valve 43 is seated, as shown. When the valve 43 is raised from its seat such that a small portion of the metering slot 49 is above the upper surface of the transverse wall 46, fuel will flow from the chamber 4 through port 4|, metering slot 49. into the outlet passage 41, and the rate of flow of liquid will be governed, or will depend upon how much of the area of the metering slot 49 is above the transverse wall 46.

The valve member 43 preferably has a stem portion 50 that extends substantially vertically, and an upper end portion thereof preferably projects externally of the casing I through the top wall or.cover 2. Any suitable mechanism, such for example as a cam and cam follower (not shown), may be provided to obtain gradual rectilinearmovement of the valve 43 to change the rate of flow of liquid, and this mechanism may be enclosed in a housing 5| in the form of a hollow boss that may surround the valve stem 2| and be integral with the casing cover 2. An upper end portion of the valve stem 2| projects above .the :housing 5| and secured thereto there may be provided a knob 52 for conveniently rotating the valve 43. Carried by the knob 52 there may be provided a pointer 53 for cooperation with indicia that maybe provided on the casing cover to aid in positioning the valve to obtain a desired rate of fiow of liquid from the chamber 4. Surrounding the valve 43 within chamber 4 there ispreferably provided a helical coil spring 54 having one end abutting an upwardly facing shoulder 54 formed on the valve member 43 and the other end abutting the un derside of the housing or' boss 5|. The spring 54 is under compression acting to move the valve member 43 downwardly or toward closed position.

The operation of the herein described device Assume that theoutlet valve 43 is open to permit flow fromthe chamber 4 and that the level of the liquid in chamber 4 is at the level LL, which may be taken as the desired level. At this level the float 23 holds the inlet valve |1 on its seat. Also assume that the level of the liquid in the inlet chamber 5, indicated by the level L'-.-L', is at the lower edge of the inlet openingof the conduit 34. Now on slight decrease in the level of the liquid in outlet chamber'4 the float 23 will descend andwill move the valve |1 slightly away from its seat, which will permit additional liquid to enter the inlet chamber 5. This will of course raise the level of the liquid in chamber 5 and when the level of the liquid reachesthe opening of the conduit 34, liquid will flow from the inlet chamber 5 down through theconduit 34 into the receptacle 33. At first the rate of flow of liquid from the inlet chamber 5 intothe receptacle 33 will be very small, but the weight of the small amount of liquid in the'receptacle 33 will further depress float 23 which will move the valve |1 further away from its seat. Thus, as the float 23 descends in accordance with the increasing quantity of liquid in the receptacle 33, the float 23 moves the valve 1 with acceleration toward open position until the port I6 is wide open, or open to a position in which the rate of inflow is greater than the rate of outflow from chamber 4. Thus it will be noted that the rate of inflow will alternate between a rate of flow less than that of the outflow and a 'rate of flow greater than that of the outflow. Liquid flowing into receptacle 33 will have the same effect as liquid flowing into chamber 4 for the reason that float 23 will be depressed to a point where it will displace the same amount of liquid as flows into receptacle 33. As is well known, if the rate of inflow to a chamber be greater than the rate of outflow, there will of necessity be an increase of liquid in said chamber. However, because during the period when the flow rate is increasing there is, by the construction employed, an increasing rate of, increase making the relatively wide-open position of valve H of a very short duration and only sufficient to fill receptacle 33, the amount of liquid required to fill receptacle 33, divided by the area of chamber 4, makes for an inappreciableincrease of liquid level in chamber 4. When the receptacle 33 has received a predetermined amount of liquid, such that the weight of the liquid overcomes the spring 40, then the receptacle 33 will pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, and will dump or discharge the liquid therefrom into the constant level chamber 4. After discharge of the liquid from the receptacle 33 intothe chamber 4, the spring 46 returns the receptacle to its up position. Discharging or dumping of the liquid from the receptacle 33 into the chamber 4 will not increase the level of the liquid in the chamber for the reason that when the liquid is discharged from the receptacle 33 the float 23, being relieved of the weight of liquid in receptacle 33, will endeavor to rise to a point where the liquid displacement of the float is decreased bythe amount of the liquid dumped. from the receptacle 33 into chamber 4. By the float 23 suddenly rising, the valve 1 will be quickly brought against its seat and further inlet of liquid will be prevented until, by flow through and removabiewith the cover 51.

the outlet valve 43, there has been a slight reduction in level of liquid inchamber 4, which repeats thecycle previously described. Thus it will be noted that in my device the inlet valve I1 is not throttled or maintained in a position to permit a constant rate of inflow equal to outflow, as is the case in previously known float actuated valves but instead the valve'is moved cyclically between a position in which no inflow occurs, or less than the rate of outflow from the chamber 4, to a position in which the rate of inflow is greater than the rate of outflow from chamber 4. By increasing the rate of inflow through the relatively large opening of valve l1, dirt or foreign matter which may have collected at the seat is permitted to escape through the increased opening of thevalve |1. By the continued movement up and down of the valve H on its seat |6, the valve is kept clean and deposit at this point of grease or other matter is prevented. Grease orforeign matter collecting on the seat ,or lodged in the orifice between the valve and its seat may prevent valve closure or proper regulation, thus permitting an undue increase of liquid level in the constant level chamber. Thus my'inlet valve I1 is operable in a manner to prevent the lodging and accumulation of foreign matter on its seat and, at the same time, maintains a substantially constant liquid level in the chamber 4. a

Referring now to Fig. 3, the device shown includes a hollow casing 55 having a chamber 56 for liquid,the top wall of thechamber being formed by a removable closure member or cover 51. Through the cover 51 there is an inlet passage 58 havinga downwardly facing port and valve seat 59 for cooperation'with a valve member 60 in the casing chamber 56. The valve member 66 may have an upwardly directed seating surface or face 6| which-may be conical, or other suitable form. The valve member 66 is carried bya lever member 62 in the casing chamber 56, and the lever 62 ispreferably carried by The lever member 62 may be pivoted at one end thereof by a pin 64 to a supporting member 63 that may be rigidly secured to and depend from the cover 51 into the chamber 56. In the present instance, the lever 62, has an end portion 65 adjacent its fulcrum that extends substantially horizontally, and through this portion of the lever there is preferably provided an aperture 66 for receiving a lower end portion 61 of the valve member 60, which may have a downwardly facing annular shoulder 68 for seating on the upper surface of the lever 62. .Thevalve member 66 may beloosely supported on ,the lever 62, the aperture 66 preferably being sufficiently larger than the diameter of the valve reduced portion 61 so that the valve may have a slight predetermined, lateral or sidemovement relative to the lever 62. Adjacent its other or free end the lever 62 has a downturned portion 69, and rigidly secured to the free end of the lever 62, within the chamber 56, there is a float 10 that is preferably located beneath the valve 60. Disposed immediately beneath the valve member 60, between the valve and the float 16, there is a container or dump bucket 1| into which liquid discharges from the inlet58. The container 1| may be rigidly secured at one end thereof to one side or leaf 12 of a hinge member, the other side or leaf 13 of which is preferably rigidly secured to the downturned lever' portion 69. The container 1| is shown in its up position and is yieldably held 6O 'vice', Fig. 5, this device includes a casing 81 in this position by a tension spring I4, one end of which may abut the top'of the float 18 and the other end of which may abut the underside 'of the container II. It will be seen that the valve 68, lever 62, float I8 and container 'II are readily removable as a unitary structure from the casing 55 on removal of the casing cover 51. Through the bottoniwall of the casing 55there is an outlet passage I that is preferably controlled by a valve 11' having a metering aperture I6 to determine the rate of flow of liquid from chamber 56. This valve structure may be the same as that shown and described inthe device of Figs. 1 and 2, or any other suitable outlet structure may be employed. The device of Fig. 3 differs from that of Figs. 1 and 2 in that only a single chamber is required and the incoming liquid is discharged directly into the container II instead of being conveyed thereto, such as by means of a-tube 34, Fig. 2. Preferably the lever 62 has apertures 'II at'either side of the valve member 68 so that the lever will not obstruct flow of liquid to the container. The device shown in Fig. 3 operates the same as that .previously described in connection with the device of Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified inlet valve structure having an inlet passage'or bore "I8 having a downwardly facing valve port and seat I9. The passage I8 preferably opens downwardly into a larger passage or bore 88 provided in a boss 8I that depends from and may be integral with the casingcover 51, and the boss 8I has 'a lower end wall provided with an aperture or bore 82 which slidably receives and guides a valve member 83. The valve member 83 extends upwardly into the chamber 88 and its upper end may have a conical face or seating surface for cooperation with the seat I9. The valve member 83 is provided with a centrally disposed passage or bore 84 that extends longitudinally thereof and the valve may have one or more laterally extending passages or bores 85 to connect the chamber 88 to the passage 84 in the valve. When the valve member 83 is in open position, or away from its seat 19, liquid enters the chamber 88 and flows through the passages 85 into the valve passage 84 and discharges at the lower end of the passage 84 directly into the container 'II.

Referring now to the modified form of my deformed in part by a bottom wall 88, end walls 89, 98 and a top wall 9I. The top wall 9I is preferably formed by a removable closure member or cover that may be held in place byscrews 92, or by other suitable means The casing 81 has an inlet chamber 93 and an outlet or constant level chamber 94 separated by a partition 95.

Preferably the partition 95 has two relatively spaced, vertical walls 96, only one of which is shown, and has a vertical wall 91 that joins with the walls 96. The inlet chamber 93 is formed by the walls 96 and 91, together with a portion of the casing end wall 89 with which the spaced walls 96 join. The walls 96 and 91 may be integral with the casing'bottom wall 88 and extending upwardly therefrom terminate below or in spaced relation to the underside of the casing cover 9|. The constant level chamber 94 has an outlet passage 98, preferably through the casing bottom wall 88, the outlet 98 preferably including a reduced bore 98 that slidably receives a valve member 99 provided with a metering aperture 99 to regulate and control the rate of flow of liquid from the chamber 94. As shown in the partition wall .91.

including an upwardly facing port and seat I8I for cooperation with a reciprocal valve member I82. A float I83 is disposed in the constant level chamber 94 and is operatively connected to the valve member I82, preferably by a lever I85. The lever I85 may be similar in shape to the lever 24 of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, having an upwardly directed, ofiset or bent portion I86 intermediate its ends to extend over andclear the Also, the lever I85 may be pivoted, as at I8I, to the side walls 96 of the partition 95.

Through the partition wall 91, above the liquid level in the chamber 94, there is a passage I88 for flow of liquid from th inlet chamber 93 into the constant level chamber 94, and the flow capacity of the passage I88 is preferably greater than the flow capacity of the inlet port MI. The passage I88 includes a port and seat I89 that preferably face inwardly of the inlet chamber 93, and the port I89 is controlled by a valve member II8 which is preferably a needle type valve that may be arranged to move horizontally. Preferably'the valve member I I8 has an extended portion III that extends through the passage I 88 and has a laterally extending abutment or pin H2 in chamber 94 for abutment with the partition wall 91 to limit movement of the valve I I8 away from its seat I89.

Preferably the valve member H8 is actuated by an overcenter, snap-acting mechanism which may include a lever or link II4 acted on by a helical tension spring H5. -The lever H4 is preferably pivoted at one end, above the valve II8, to a movable connecting member III which operatively connects the lever II4 to the valve member I82. At its lower end the lever II4 may be provided with an elongated aperture extending longitudinally thereof to receive a pin II8 rigid with and extending laterally from the valve H8. The spring 'I I5 may have one end secured to the lever II4, intermediate the ends thereof. and the other end of the spring may be secured to a pin or rod I28 that may be disposed above the upper end of the lever H4. The rod I28 may have one end thereof secured in and to the partition wall 91 and may extend longitudinally of the casing 81, or parallel to the walls 96 of chamber 93. At its upper end the connecting member III is provided with an aperture or bore to receive the rod I28 on which the connecting member II! is slidably supported for movement longitudinally thereof.

The valve member I82 preferably hasavertically extending stem portion I2 I, and preferably rigidly connected to the upper end of the stemportion I2I within the inlet chamber 93 there is a float I22. The overcenter mechanism is operated to actuate the valve II8 on predetermined movement of the valve I82, and to this end the valve stem I2I may be provided, below the float I22, with a cam groove or slot I23 to receive a follower member or pin I24 that may be secured to the lower end of the slidable connecting member III.

The herein described device shown in Fig. 5

uid in the inletchamber 93 is at thelevel des-v ignated L'--L'. In operation oi the device the outlet valve 99 will, of course, be in an open psition to obtain a desired regulated rate of flow additional liquid into the inlet chamber 93 will;

of course, increase the liquidlevel therein which causes" an increase in the upwardly directed, buoyant force acting on the float I22 with the result that the float I22 nowaids the other float I03 to move the valve I02 further away from its seat IOI'. The increase in the buoyant force.

actingon the float I22 also results in an increase in liquid displacedby the float I03, 'with corresponding increase in liquid level in the chamber 94. During the upward movement of the valve.

I 02 the connecting member I I1, having its'follower I24 in the valve camfgroove I23, is'moved to the right, which pivots lever I I4 in aclockwise direction. On predetermined rnovemeht of the connecting member I I1 the pivot pointof the lever I I4 is movedovercenter whereby the spring I I5 acts to pivot lever H4 and move valve H0 away from its seat I09 with increasing accelera tion, or with a so-calledsnap action. Liquid now flows frornchamber 93 through passage I08. into the constant level chamber. Therate of flow of liquid into the chamber 94 is greater than the rate of flow therefrom, with the result that the liquid level begins to .rise therein. 1 For a time interval following openin of the valve H0 the float I22 will continue to aid the larger float I03 to hold the valve I02 open. However, as the liquid level decreases in chamber 93 the upward buoyant force on .the float I22 decreases, and consequently the eifective weight thereof acting to close 'the valve I02 increases. During this time thefloat 103,, aided by the float I22, moves the valve I02 toward itsseat IOI. As the valve I02ismovedtoward it's seatthe connectingmem- II1Yi'sfmoved to theleft, pivoting lever H4 I afcounterclockwisedirection. When the pivot pointjoi 'thelever H4 is moved overcenter, the

spring II5 willpivot the lever, with a quick or snap action and close or seat the valve ll0when the desiredflevel The above operation is repeated each time the level of the liquid in chamber '94 decreases sufliciently to result in opening of the valve 1oz 'by the float I03. In

the device of Fig. 5, like that of Figs. 1 and 2,

the valve is not throttled but instead is cyclically trolledby a manually adjustable metering valve I34 similar to that described in connection with Fig. 2. The interior of the casing I30is divided into an inlet chamber I35 and' a constant level chamber I36 by a partition or transversely extending wall member I31 which terminates at its upper end, as at I38,.-be1ow the top edge of the casing I30. The partition I31 is preferably substantially of the form shown in connection with the foregoing figures, and maybe referred toas substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section so that the side walls of thepartition I31 are spaced from the sidewalls of the main casing I30, but the inlet chamber I35 has a wall in common with the end wall of casing I30.

The casing I30 is provided with an inlet fitting I33 having a passageway I40 extending therethrough, and opening 'at its inner end through a hollow boss or extension I rising from the bottom wallof the inlet chamber I35. The passageway I40 receives a valve fitting I42 which is positioned. within the' chamber I35 and secured,

as by screw threaded engagement, in the open inner end of the passageway I40. The fitting I42 has a longitudinally extending bore I43 which is of reduced cross sectional area. at its lower end to provide a valve seat and inlet port, and abovethe port there is one or more transverse passageways or portsthrough the fitting wall for establishing communication between the bore I43 and the chamber I35. Within the'bore I43 there is a valvemember I44 which is longitudinally reciprocal therein to control flow through the inlet port. The valve member I44 projects from the upper end of the fitting I42 and is provided with a "circumferential groove or recess providing oppositely positioned shoulders between which extends one end of an operating lever I45 which on pivotal movement acts to raise or lower the valve member I44. lever 1451s formed with anofiset portion I46 which bridges the partition I31 and has secured to its free end, within chamber I36, afloat member I41 which is responsive to the liquid level in the chamber I36.

The lever I45 is pivotally supported, as at I48,

on pins or bearing members which aresecured in the opposite side walls of the partition I31, the lever I45 having an extension 149 which receives the pivot pins. The chambers I35, I36 are in communication with each other through a siphon tube I 50 having its shorter leg within chamber I35 and its longer leg within chamber I36. The tube I50 has a bore diameter less than the diameter of the inlet port in fitting I42, and also has its-cross-sectional flow area greater thanthe effective maximum flow area through outlet I33. theliquidlevel in chamber is substantially at The device shown in Fig. 6 operates as follows: -When the chamber I36 is empty, or the liquid level therein is below thedesired, predetermined, substantially constant level, the float I41 will be in a down position below that shown in Fig. 6, so that the valve member I 44 will be raised from its seat to permit liquid to flow into opened a predetermined distance, the rate of inlet of liquid through passageway: I40 will be greater than the rate of outflow through siphon liquid flows into chamber I36, the float I41 will be lifted by the rise in liquid level and will, through its lever I45, start movementof the valve tube I50 at its maximumrate of flow. As-the member I44 toward closed position." However;

this movement-will not aflect the ratezof flow through passageway I40 until theliquid level in chamber I36 has risen substantially to the desired liquid level at the line L. Upon the liquid level rising to the line L, the valve member I will be moved to closed position. During the time that the liquid level in chamber I36 has been rising to the line L, the level of liquid in chamber I35 will have risen to a point above the topof the siphon tube I50, thereby fllling the tube. As the float member I" is being lifted, due to the liquid level increasing toward the line L, the valve member I will be moving toward closed position throttling the rate of inlet of liquid into the chamber I35 so that the level of liquid in chamber I35 will not increase above a predetermined level below the top edge of partition I31. Obviously, as the valve member I moves to its seat, the rate of inflow of liquid to chamber I35 will be less than the rate of flow of outflow from outlet I33.

through siphon tube I50 until the flow through tube I50 ceases. In the event that the liquid outflow throughthe tube I50 should not keep the liquid level, in chamber I35 from rising above the predetermined level, then if the liquid should overflow the partition edge I36, the control device will function in accordance with the prior art constant level ,controls in which the inlet valve hasa throttled position under. control of the float member I4] as determined by the rate Upon closure of the valve member I, the siphon tube I50 will then function to continue the discharge of liquid from chamber I35 into chamber I36, but by reason of the relatively greater size of chamber I36 the volume of liquid siphoned out of chamber I35' will cause only a slight rise of liquid level above the line L inchamber I36. This increase of liq uid level in chamber I36 will be insufiicient to cause any material variation in the liquid head on the outlet I33, and the rate of flow through outlet I33 will therefore remain substantially constant irrespective of this slight change in liq- -uid level. If the liquid level in chamber I36 drops below the line L for any reason, such as consumption of the 'oil or liquid supplied by or from chamber I36, the float member I" will startto open the valve member I, but as the liquid in chamber I35 has been lowered to or below the lower end of the shorter leg oflthe siphon tube I50, no liquid will be fed into the chamber I36. Therefore the valve member I will be moved toward open position in accordance with the decrease of liquid level in chamber I36,

and when the liquid level in chamber I36 has necting thervalve member and the float member is so constructed that full opening of valve.

member I win be effected by a very slight decrease ofliquid level in chamber I36 below the line L so that the range between the minimum and maximum levels in chamber I36, during supply of liquid in normal operation through the outlet I33, will be insufilcient to deleteriously affect the flow from the outlet, which flow may for all commercial usage be considered constant. The inletport or passageway I40 is of a size such that when the valve member I is in maximum open position, the rate of inflow to the interior of the casing I 30 will be greater than the rate quantity of liquid admitted by said valve.

2. In a liquid level control device, means providing a chamber having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valve controlling said-inlet, a float operatively connected to said valve and operable in response to the liquid level in said chamber, and a receptacle into which liquid flows and operable to isolate the incomingliquid from said chamber, means cooperable with said receptacle and operable subsequent to receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid to discharge the liquid into said chamber, said receptacle and liquid delivered thereinto cooperating with said float to vary the buoyancy of said float.

3. In a liquid level control device, means providing a chamber for liquid and having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a receptacle to which liquid is supplied, means operable solely subsequent to said receptacle receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid to allow the liquid to flow from said'receptacle into said chamber, a

, float responsive to changes in liquid level in said chamber and carrying said receptacle, and valve means controlling said inlet and actuated by said I float to control supply of liquid to said receptacle.

4. In a liquid level control device, means providing a chamber for liquid and having an outlet, means providing an inlet chamber associated with said first-named chamber and having an inlet, valve means controlling said inlet, a float responsive to changes in liquid level in said firstnamed chamber and operatively connected to said valve means, a receptacle carried by said float and to which liquid is supplied from said inlet to vary the effective buoyancy of said float,

and means operable solely subsequent to said receptacle receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid to discharge the liquid from said receptacle into said first-named chamber.

5. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a chamber wherein the level of a liquid is maintained at a predetermined substantially constant level, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet for liquid, a valvecontrolling said inlet, a float for actuating said valve and responsive to changes in the level of the liquid in said chamber, said float being only partially submerged in the liquid when the level thereof is at said substantially constant level, a receptacle carried by said float and communicatively connected to said inlet, said receptacle being operable to isolate the incoming liquid from said chamher, said float on decrease in liquid level in said .said receptacle into said chamber solely subsequent to a predetermined quantity of liquid being received by said receptacle, said float on discasing also having an inlet chamber and aninlet therefor, a receptacle towhich liquid is supplied from said inlet chamber, duct, means for conveying liquid by gravity from said inlet chamber 'for discharge into said receptacle, said receptacle being operable to isolate the supplied liquid from said chamber, means for periodically discharging said liquid from said. receptacle into said firstnamed chamber, a, float responsive to liquid level changes in said first-named chamber and carrying said receptacle, and valve means controlling said inlet and operatively connected to said float.

7. In a liquid level control device, a. casing having a constant level chamber for liquid andhaving aninlet and an-outlet, valvemeans Icontrolling said. inlet, a float responsive to changes in liquid level in said chamber and operatively connected to said valve means, a receptacle carried by saidfloat and communicatively connected to said-inlet, hinge means connecting said rec'eptacle to said float, said float on decrease in liquid level in said chamber moving said valve't0ward openposition to supply liquid tosaid receptacle to affect the float to move said valve further toward open position, said receptacle on receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid pivoting to discharge the liquid into said chamber, and yieldable means opposing pivotal movement of said receptacle.

8. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a constant level chamber and an outlet therefor, said casing also having an inlet chamber and an inlet therefor, a valve controlling said inlet, a

float responsive to cha'nges in liquid level in said first-named chamber and operatively connected to and for actuating said valve, a receptacle pivotally mounted on and carried by said-float, duct means communicatively connecting said receptacle and said inlet chamber, said duct vmeans communicating with said inlet chamber above the level in said first-named chamber, said float on decrease in liquid level moving said valve toward open position to increase the liquid level in said inlet chamber for flow to said receptacle, said float being affected by the increased weight of the liquid in said receptacle to further open said valve, said receptacle on receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid being operable to pivot and discharge the liquid into said firstnamed chamber, said float on discharge of liquid from said receptacle moving said valve toward closed position, and resilient means yieldably opposing pivotal movement of said receptacle.

9. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a relatively large constant level chamber and a relatively small inlet chamber, said constant 4 level chamber having an outlet and said inlet ward open position, and means operable solely subsequent to said receptacle receiving a predetermined amount of liquid to allow the liquid to discharge from said receptacle into said constant level chamber so that said float can act to seat said valve.

10.iIn a liquid level control device, a casing having a chamber for liquid and having an inlet valve port above the liquid level to be maintained in said chamber, a valve member to control said port a float in'said chamberandoperatively connected to said valve member, a container carried by said float beneath said port to receive liquid to afiect operation of said valve member by said float, and means operable upon the occurrence of a predetermined quantity of liquid in said container to discharge the liquid into said chamber. 5

f 11 In a liquid level control device, a casing having a chamber for, liquid and having an opening thereinto, a removable closure member closing said opening and having an inlet port opening into said chamber above the liquid level therein, a lever member carried by said removable closure member, a float attached to said lever member and responsive to changes in liquid level in said chamber, a valve carried by said lever member and controlling said port, a container carried by said lever member and arranged to receive liquid from said inlet, and means operable to discharge the liquid from said container into said chamber, said lever member, said float and said container being removable from said casing with said closure member as a unitary structure.

12. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a liquid level chamber and a second chamber,lsaid second-named chamber havingan inlet port, a valve member to control said port, a float responsive to changes in liquid level in said first named chamber andoperatively connected to said valve member,said chambers being connected by a passage including a valve port, a

valve member controlling said second-named port, a float responsive to changes in liquid level in said second-named chamber and operatively connected to both of said valve members.

13. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a chamber for liquid and having an outlet, said casing having an inlet chamber separated from said first-named chamber by a partition and having an inlet port, a valve member in said inlet chamber and controlling said port, a float in said first-named chamber and operatively connected to said valve member, a passage through said partition connecting said chambers and having a. port above the liquid level in said first-named chamber, a valve member to control said second-named port, a float carried by said first-named valve member and cooperable with said first-named float to move said first-named valve member toward open position, and means operable on predetermined opening movement of said first-named valve member to open said secend-named valve member.

14. In a liquid level control device, a casing having a chamber for liquid and having an outlet, said casing having an inlet chamber separated from said first-named chambe pby a partition and having an inlet port, a valve member in said inlet chamber and controlling said port, a. float in said first-named chamber and operatively connected to said valve member, a passage through said partition connecting said chambers and having a port above the liquid level in said first-named chamber, a valve member to control said second-named port, a float carried by said first-named valve member and c'ooperable' with said first-named float to move said first-named valve member toward open position, snap-acting mechanism to actuate said second-named valve member, and means to actuate said snap-acting mechanism and operable on predetermined movement of said first-named valve member.

15. .In aliquid levelcontrol device, a, chambered casing including a constant level chamber and including an inlet-to said casing and an outlet therefrom, a liquid displacing means in said chamber responsive to liquid level and controlling said inlet, said displacing means being operable to admit liquid through said inlet to maintain a substantially constant level in said chamber, and means including an inlet chamber for receiving the liquid from said inlet and operable to isolate the incoming liquid from and to discharge the liquidatintervals into. said constant level chamber, said last-named means'also being operable liquid volume. 1 P

'16. In .a liquid level; control'device, a cham bered casing including, aconstant level chamber and including an inlet to said casing and an -outl'etqtherefrom, a' liquid displacing means in said chamber responsive to liquid level and controlling saicl inlet, said, displacing means being operable to admit liquid through 'said inlet to maintain a" substantially-constant f level in said chamber," means including an inlet chamber for receiving the liquidfirom said inlet and operable 'st nalm'ed means also 'said'l-liquid displacing in substantially constant -qn fvolume; and means operhaving;af'constant-.levelchamber and an outlet therefor; saidvcasinslalso having an inlet chamher and an-inlet therefor, a valve controlling said inlet, a float responsive to changes in liquid level in said flrstsname'd -'chamber and operatively constant level chamber v illiquid from the last-named means ginto said "constant level" chamber.

connected to and for'actuating said valve, a. receptacle positioned within said first-named chamber and cooperable with said float, duct means communicatively connecting said receptacle and said inlet chamber, said duct means communicating with said inlet chamber above the level in said first-named chamber, said float on decrease in liquid level moving said valve toward open position to increase the liquid level in said inlet chamber for flow to said receptacle, said float being aflected by the increased weight of the liquid in said receptacle to further open said valve, and'means operable solely subsequent to a predetermined quantity of liquid being received in said receptacle'to discharge the liquid into said first-named chamber, said float on discharge of liquidfrom said receptacle moving saidv valve toward closed position.

18. Ina liquid level control device, means providing a chamber'for liquid and having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a float responsive to changes in liquid level positioned" within said chamber, a receptacle positioned within said chamber and pivotally carried by said float, said inlet being operable to discharge into said receptacle, a valve controlling flow of liquid through said inlet and actuated by said float, and means operable solely upon the occurrence of a prede- .termined quantity of liquid in said receptacle to pivot said receptacle thereby to dischargethe 19. In a liquid level control device, means providing a chamber for liquid and having an outlet, means providing an inlet chamber associated with said first-named chamber and having an inlet,valve means controlling said inlet, a. float responsive to changes in liquid level in said firstnamed chamber and operatively connected to said valve means, a receptacle'pivotally carried by said floatand to which liquid is supplied from said inlet to vary the effective buoyancy of said float, saidreceptacle having a liquid holding positlon and a liquid discharging position, and means operable to hold said receptacle in said holding position, said means being operable to allow movement of said receptacle to said discharging position subsequent to the liquid in said receptacle reaching a predetermined quantity.

PHILIP S. RUSSEL. 

